Pardon the Newb Question

With the ability to auto-pause, it is exactly like a simultaneous movement turn-based system. The crappy system in games like MOO and SE3/4 should not be sought after; initiative is the future. Continuous time execution is just the integral of phased initiative systems, resulting in the smoothest system you can imagine.

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You should not worry about the real time aspect too much. I prefer turn based as well, but the system here is well done and plenty of fun, its not some annoying click fest. It does take some getting used to and the fact that you have to assign ships "strategies" is pretty tough at first to master, but it makes real time combat great once you get the hang of it.

I find that micro-managing units during combat is unnecessary. Most of the time I can just sit back and watch the combat without any interventions. The only exceptions are when I forget to assign the correct strategies to ships or fleets (i.e. missile ships not using Max Range strategy, troop transports not using Capture Planet strategy).